Information processing apparatus and method for guiding connection destination

Abstract

An information processing apparatus comprises a management module configured to manage peripheral device information relating to a peripheral device connected with connection destination devices in association with each of the connection destination devices, a selection module configured to select a connection destination candidate from the connection destination devices on the basis of the peripheral device information if connection is requested from a new peripheral device and an informing module configured to inform the connection destination device serving as the connection destination candidate selected by the selection module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a management module configured to manage peripheral device information relating to a peripheral device connected with connection destination devices in association with each of the connection destination devices;   a selection module configured to select a connection destination candidate from the connection destination devices on the basis of the peripheral device information if connection is requested from a new peripheral device; and   an informing module configured to inform the connection destination device serving as the connection destination candidate selected by the selection module.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the management module manages the peripheral device information containing the number of the connected peripheral devices; and   the selection module selects the connection destination candidate according to the number of the peripheral devices connected with each of the connection destination devices.   
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connection control module configured to enable the new peripheral device to be connected to the connection destination device serving as the connection destination candidate selected by the selection module.   
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a connection control module configured to enable the new peripheral device to be connected to the connection destination device serving as the connection destination candidate selected by the selection module.   
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , which is one of the connection destination devices, wherein
 the selection module selects a connection destination candidate from the connection destination devices containing the information processing apparatus if the connection is request for the information processing apparatus from the new peripheral device.   
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , which is a server device for managing each of the connection destination devices, wherein
 the selection module selects a connection destination candidate from the connection destination devices if the connection is request for anyone of the connection destination devices from the new peripheral device.   
     
     
         7 . A method for guiding a connection destination, including:
 managing peripheral device information relating to a peripheral device connected with connection destination devices in association with each of the connection destination devices;   selecting a connection destination candidate from the connection destination devices on the basis of the peripheral device information if connection is requested from a new peripheral device; and   informing the connection destination device serving as the connection destination candidate selected by the selection module.